Electric-conductor coupling



Apr. 17, 1923.

T. H FENN ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR .COUPLING Filed May 1'? 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 G mum,

Apr. 17, 1923'. 1,4151%9'79v T. H. FENN ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR COUPLING .Filed May 17, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ell) Patented Apr. l7, i923.

ONE-HALF TO THOMAS FOULKES, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ELECTRIC-CONDUCTOR COUPLING.

Application filed May 17,

To all whom it may canoe m:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. FnNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Conductor Couplings, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in electric conductor couplings, the present embodiment of the invention relating more particularly to that class or type which are adapted to simultaneously connect a plurality of electric conductors through the me dium of a plurality of contact elements, the improved device being particularly designed and adapted for use in the walls of factory buildings, machine shops, and the like, in connecting the relatively heavy conductors leading to the various electrically driven machines.

In view of the fact that the connections are made simultaneously with the insertion of the head or plug member into the socket or receptacle the device forms what may be termed a plug-in switch.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a generally improved device for the class indicated which will be exceedingly simple in construction, cheap of manufacture, and efficient in use. i

A further and very important object of the invention is toprovide a wall socket or receptacle which may be closed when not in use to protect the internal contactelements, or if desired, the cover may be locked to prevent the unauthorized use of same.

lVith the above mentioned and other ends in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement. and combination of. parts hereinafter described, illustrated in one of its embodiments in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. I

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l, is a side elevation of the improved coupling or connector, the parts being in assembled or connected position.

Fig. 2, a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3, a face View of the same.

Fig. 4, a central vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same taken on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5, a view of the open or face side of 1921. Serial No. 470,377.

the wall receptacle or socket when the or head member is removed.

Fig. 6, a side elevation of the same with the protecting cover or closure attached.

Fig. 7, a face view of the same with the protecting cover attached.

Fig. 8, a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, illustrating a modified form of locking device for securing the head and socket members in assembled position.

Similar numerals of reference designate like parts throughout all the figures of the drawings.

The improved coupling comprises a socket or wall receptacle 1., and a plug or head member 2. The socket or wall receptacle 1, is preferably of cylindrical form in cross section and particularly with respect to the opening adapted to receive the head or plug member 2, the latter being preferably of cylindrical form in cross section to slidably fit within the opening of the socket.

The socket or receptacle 1, is preferably provided with an insulating member or base 1, adapted to carry the contact elements 3. connected to the wall terminals or conductors 3 the latter, in the present instance, extending out through the side wall of the receptacle or socket provided with an insulating ring 3 removably secured by means of av nut 3. The insulating base 1, may be secured by means of fastening elements 1'. and the contact elements 3, may be secured by means of fastening screws 3 the terminals 3 being secured by means of binding screws 3. Y

The plug or head member is made up, in the present instance, of a plurality of disk members, one of said members 2*, being provided witha plurality of spaced openings 2", and the other disk member 2, being provided with suitable openings 2, to slidably receive and contain the spring resisted movable contact elements 4. The contact elements 4, project inwardly from the insulating disk member 2, and are correspondingly spaced with complementary contact elements 3. of the socket or receptacle 1. As a means of causing the movable contact elements l. to be normally projected in front of the face of the plug member and, when the latter is connected. to firmly press against the contact elements 8, coiled springs 4 are mounted on the reduced stem portions of the pins and are arranged within the openings 2, of the insulating tors a being suitably attached. to the rear ends of thecontact elements i, and extending through suitable insulating sleeves 2, in the plug or head 2.

As a means of joining and locking the socket and plug members in proper position,

and particularly as a means of initially engaging the plug member when being inserted whereby'such plug member must be brought with its contact elements 4., in circumferential alignment with the contact elements of the socket, said socket and plug members are provided with longitudinally extending guide members 5, and 6, eccentrically located and extending longitudinally of and parallel with the axes of said socket and plug member. In the present instance, the said guide members 5,'and 6, comprise tubular members, the tubular guide member 5, preferably extending outwardly slightly in front of the mouth of the socket or receptacle 1, so as to initially engage and slide within the tubular member 6, extending through the plug or head member 2.

As a means of automatically locking the socket and plug members in assembled connected position with the contact elements 3,

and 4, in engagement, the tubular guide 6,

(ill

is provided with a sleeve 6, provided at its lower por ion with a cable holding sleeve extension 6*, to receive and carry the mam cable 7.

The sleeve 6, is secured to the tubular member 6, in any suitable and convenient manner and is provided with a suitable locking device, as for example,a spring res1st-' ed latch member 9, pivotally mounted between bearing lugs i3", and provided with an inclined nose or ii. 8 adapted to snap into a notch or recess 6, in the guide member 6. The hook or head portion of the latch is preferably isted by means of a spring 9, mounted on tile sleeve 6, by'means of attaching screws 9 If desired a locking device in the term of a screw 10, provided with a head having wings 10, may be provided as shown. in Fig. 8, of the drawings, and in which instance, the screw is mounted in a threaded opening in the sleeve 6, and may engage in a notch or recess 6, in the guide sleeve or tube 5.

As a means of closing the socket or receptaele 1, when the plug or head 2, is removed, thereby protecting the contact elements 8, and preventing any unauthorized use, the face or mouth of the socket may be closed by means 0]": a cover or closure 11, having an opening to receive the guide 5 (see Fig. 7)

and provided with a flanged portion 11 which fits down over the marginal edges oi the socket, and as a means oi securing the cover 11, in position, the latter may be provided with a latch member 12, pivoted on a screw 12, and provided with a handle 12 disk 2, the terminals or conduc .ously connecting a plurality of the free endof the latch being adapted to engage in a notch 6, in the guide sleeve 5, as shown most clearly in Fig- 7, of the drawings. If desired the cover 11, may be locked thereonby means of any suitable and con venient lock. 7

Having thus described some of the embodiments of my invention, without having attempted to set forth all the forms in which it may be made, or all the modes of its use, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,- i

1. In an electric coupling for simultaneously connecting a plurality of electric terminals and contact elements, cylindrical shaped socket and head members carrying a plurality of electric terminals and relatively fixed and movable contact elements, and longitudinally extending eccentrically located guide members adapted to initially engage and slide over each other whereby said plug member must be brought with its.

contact elements in alignment with the contact elements of said inserted.

2.1a an electric conductor coupling, the combination with head and socket members provided with relatively movable and fixed contact elements; of eccentrically located longitudinally extending guide members carried by said head and socket members adapted to initially telescope with each other. whereby said head member must be moved to a predetermined position circumterentially relative to said socket member therebybringing said contact elements into alignment with each other when said plug member is inserted.

In an electric coupling for simultaneelectric terminals and contact elements, cylindrical shaped socket and head members each carrying a plurality of electric terminals and relatively fixed and movable insulated contact elements, respectively, longitudinally extending eccentrically located tubular guide members adaptedto engage and slide over each other whereby said plug member must be brought with alignment with the contact elements of said socket member when inserted, said tubular guide of said head members being provided with a cable carrying sleeve and a locking device for securing said guide members in relatively locked position.

a. In an electric conductor coupling, a relatively fixed wall receptacle of cylindrical form in cross section provided in its base with insulated contact elements, a plug member of similar form in cross section adapted to enter said socket receptacle and provided with spring resisted contact elements adapted to register with and make contact with said first mentioned contact elements, a guide member eccentrically losocket member when 1 its contact elements in' cated in said receptaeleand extending 1ongitudinally oi' the longitudinal axis thereof, and a second similarly located and extending guide carried by said plug member and adapted to initially engage said first men tioned guide when the plug is inserted whereby said plug must be swung circumferentially to bring said movable contact elements into registry with said relatively fixed contactelement when the plug is inserted.

5. In an electric conductor coupling, a relatively fixed cylindrically shaped wall receptacle provided within its interior with insulated contact elements, a plug member of similar form in cross section, provided with spring resisted contact elements adapted to register with said first mentioned contact elements at predetermined circumferential positions of said receptacle and plug inemr 

